Wearable Sensors Based on Force-Sensitive Resistors for Touch-Based Collaborative Digital Gaming

• Published in: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 22; no. 1; p. 342
• Main Authors: Dontha, Balaji, Swearingen, Kyoung, Swearingen, Scott, Thrane, Susan E, Kiourti, Asimina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.01.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Autism; Children & youth; Children with disabilities; Cognitive ability; Collaboration; collaborative digital gaming; conductive threads; Design; Electronic components industry; embroidery; force-sensitive resistor; Games; Humans; Hydrogels; Memory; Players; Polyesters; Resistors; Sensitivity; Sensors; Sewing; Skin; Textiles; Touch; Touch Perception; Video Games; Wearable Electronic Devices; wearable sensors; Wearable technology; force-sensitive resistor; collaborative digital gaming; wearable sensors; conductive threads; embroidery
• ISSN: 1424-8220; 1424-8220
• DOI: 10.3390/s22010342

We report new classes of wearable sensors that monitor touch between fully-abled and disabled players in order to empower collaborative digital gaming between the two. Our approach relies on embroidered force-sensitive resistors (FSRs) embedded into armbands, which outperform the state-of-the-art in terms of sensitivity to low applied forces (0 to 5 N). Such low forces are of key significance to this application, given the diverse physical abilities of the players. With a focus on effective gameplay, we further explore the sensor's touch-detection performance, study the effect of the armband fabric selection, and optimize the sensor's placement upon the arm. Our results: (a) demonstrate a 4.4-times improvement in sensitivity to low forces compared to the most sensitive embroidered FSR reported to date, (b) confirm the sensor's ability to empower touch-based collaborative digital gaming for individuals with diverse physical abilities, and (c) provide parametric studies for the future development of diverse sensing solutions and game applications.